CC Will Be Big Coin in the Fontainebleau

Lisa Plummer -- Tradeshow Week, 5/2/2008 11:26:00 AM

While some projects on the Strip are feeling the crunch of a challenging financial market, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas appears to be breathing easy. Construction on the $2.9 billion property is moving forward with the opening still set for October 2009, according to Andy Finn, Fontainebleau vice president of sales and marketing. 

Its success “starts with the great planning on the part of our parent company, Turnberry Associates,” Finn said. 

“They acquired solid financing and committed partners. We’ve not seen any evidence that the economic slowdown has had an effect (on us).” 

The property sits on the 25-acre former site of the El Rancho. Soffer, a Florida-based development company and principle owners of Turnberry Associates, purchased the land in May 2000 for $45 million. The company also owns neighboring Turnberry Place, as well as the Fontainebleau Miami. 

Construction progress on Fontainebleau is steady, moving at the rate of one floor per week, according to Finn, and is currently on the 34th of 63 floors. When completed, the Fontainebleau will boast the tallest hotel tower on the Strip at 725 feet, Finn said. The mixed-use property will have 3,650 rooms and suites, including more than 900 condo units, and a two-level convention center of approximately 393,800 square feet.  

As now planned, the yet-to-be-named convention facility will have three ballrooms and 58 breakout rooms, including four boardrooms. At more than 105,264 sq. ft., the Fontainebleau Ballroom will be the largest pillarless ballroom in the world, according to Finn, and will sit 14 stories above street level. Stacked beneath it will be two additional grand ballrooms, measuring 42,000 and 32,000 sq. ft. Meeting space will be divided among both floors. 

Finn said smaller, 5,000-person corporate and association groups would comprise the property’s core user group. The first event is scheduled to take place in January 2010, he added, and clients are beginning to reserve dates through 2013. 

Although the property will join the growing ranks of high-end, mixed-use Strip developments, developers hope what will set Fontainebleau apart will be an open and personable approach to customer service, as well as unique design elements, Finn said. 

“The product will speak for itself but, if service isn’t at a certain level, it’ll be lost,” he added. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” 

Designers plan to create a dramatic, visual spectacle out of the top half of the building’s facade, visible from anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley. Another distinct feature will be Strip-front, street- level LED display panels, which will create an outdoor digital media experience.  

Rounding out guest rooms and convention space, the property will have several pools, a 100,000 sq. ft. casino, 15 restaurants, 300,000 sq. ft. of shops and a 60,000 sq. ft. spa, which Finn said would be the largest in Las Vegas.